Glasgow Central Station has undergone a £5m upgrade, with the opening of a new Avanti West Coast ticket office and first-class lounge on Monday, November 18th.

The project, led by Network Rail, has also involved the relocation of several retail units and the creation of a new station reception desk on the main concourse. The new Avanti West Coast ticket office, situated in the historic Caledonian Chambers, offers improved accessibility and customer service, with two welcome desks, more ticket machines, and user-friendly information screens.

A key focus of the upgrade has been to improve accessibility for passengers with reduced mobility. A new step-free Network Rail station reception has been created on the concourse level of Caledonian Chambers, making it easier for wheelchair users, those with prams, and passengers with luggage to access station services.

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Liam Sumpter, Network Rail Scotland managing director, said: "This project represents an exciting opportunity to enhance facilities within the station in what is a multi-million-pound investment in Glasgow Central.

"The upgrade we are delivering will improve choice for our passengers and better serve the needs of our retailers by creating more modern commercial spaces within the station."

Andy Mellors, Managing Director at Avanti West Coast, said: "We've been looking forward to opening the doors to our new Ticket Office and First Class Lounge following this latest investment to improve journeys on the west coast. Glasgow is a key destination on our route and a city we're proud to serve, so we're absolutely delighted we now have welcoming facilities that complement the beautiful station and can be enjoyed by our customers travelling to and from Glasgow Central.

"These facilities offer a better experience with improved accessibility, as well as making it easier to buy tickets and find journey information. Our new location in Caledonian Chambers also means we're closer to our customers on Platforms 1 and 2. It has been great working with Network Rail Scotland to transform these spaces, as part of their Glasgow Central station upgrade project and we look forward to seeing further improvements."

The renovation project has also helped preserve the historic nature of the building with work being undertaken to restore original features in Caledonian Chambers. Network Rail received a £52,000 grant from the Railway Heritage Trust to refurbish some of the sash windows on the building façade, which feature in Avanti West Coast's First Class Lounge.